Read Online Falling (The Soul Collectors Series Book 1) by Tara Benham - Free Book Online

let this go. During this break, the guys decided they needed more food. They volunteered to walk to the café to procure food for all of us. I was glad, because this gave me time to address Father Paul.
    “Why are you here? I’ve gone from working alone to needing three people with me for this mission. What gives, Father Paul?” I didn’t give him much time; I was questioning him right as the door closed behind the guys.
    “Bayla, I cannot help you more than simple guidance. Elder Michael sent me here because he knew you would figure out the need for Declan. He knew you would have questions. He is only permitting me to agree if you are correct. I cannot independently or freely give you information. You must come to me first. I had hoped you wouldn’t figure out it was me so early. I don’t want you to think that any of us are doubting your abilities...quite the opposite actually. We have never been surer of the decision to send you on the mission. Hadraniel was just for extra support and hopefully to help teach you a few things. You must not let him know about Declan.”
    “Can you tell me why? Why Gray? Why Declan?”
    He shook his head and walked back to the table. He handed me the “Angels and Demonology” book and went back to reading his campsites guide. I’d known it was a long shot that he would answer, but I had to try. I had already read most of the book in front of me and was just merely skimming when a section titled “Falling” caught my eye. I began reading about when Lucifer defied God and was sent to Hell. I read about the other fallen angels, and the story of how the demons were created. The section talked about how many of the Fallen were thought to have tried to rise again, with little success. Some realized their mistake a little too late. Others who were the children of the fallen felt they had the right to try to be redeemed as it hadn’t been their choice that made them a Fallen. I became oblivious to my surroundings as I became immersed in the story of the children of the Fallen; their legends and myths, how they tried to help angels, and humans throughout history, yet were overlooked for various reasons. Reading this was just causing more frustration for me. Why have me try to help Declan if it was impossible? The guys walked in just as I had decided I needed a break. I moved to another table that had open space so I could eat and not see a book. Thoughts kept racing as I ate my burger.
    “Why the frown, Bay?” Declan asked, almost sincerely.
    “I didn’t realize I was this hungry, I suppose.”
    He chuckled. I honestly didn’t know if he knew about this part of my mission. My Grace, I didn’t know if he even wanted to be redeemed! I couldn’t outwardly ask him, either. I could feel my eyebrows furrowing again. I needed to finish eating and get back to the book. I needed answers. This was beginning to get more complicated than I had originally thought. If the Fallen couldn’t be redeemed, why was he even a part of the mission? Why would they give me a mission at which I could not succeed? How could I continue to have Hadraniel help me without telling him this new information? I was wracking my brain. I finished my burger and took my soda back to the table with me so I could finish the book. Both Had and Declan had already looked at this book, and hadn’t shared this information, either because they didn’t find it beneficial, or because they hadn’t even read this part.
    I was scanning the remaining few pages with little to no help of finding answers. Close to the end was a story that told of a chance of a rising for the fallen angels. The story explained that if a Fallen gives his life while saving an angel they have the opportunity to be redeemed. It told of different Fallen that had never been truly able to give their lives selflessly. I knew that Declan would never willingly give his life in exchange for mine or Hadraniel’s. This mission would be my first failure even if I